White House lobbied 185 lawmakers to back Syria strike

Sep. 5, 2013
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In this handout image provided by Host Photo Agency, President Obama arrives for an official welcome of G-20 heads of state and government, heads of invited states and international organizations at the summit on September 5, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Russia. / Handout Getty Images

by Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY

by Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - Top administration officials - including President Obama himself-have now reached out to 185 lawmakers as part of the White House effort to win congressional support for a military strike against Syria, according to a White House official.

The official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on condition of anonymity, said senior White House officials have held meetings or taken part in calls with 60 senators and 125 House members as part of their outreach effort on Syria.

On Thursday afternoon, Vice President Biden and Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken met with a group of lawmakers in the White House Situation Room to discuss a potential strike.

On Wednesday, White House chief of staff Denis McDonough held calls with members of the Progressive Caucus and Hispanic Caucus, some of whom have expressed reluctance to vote in favor of the use-of-force authorization.

Blinken has also held a conference call with Jewish House members, and Obama and senior White House officials have made more than 25 individual phone calls to lawmakers to talk to them about their concerns about Syria.

Others who have been involved in the outreach efforts are Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Hagel, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power, according to the official.

Power will also deliver an address on Friday to the Center for American Progress, an influential liberal think tank in Washington, as the White House continues its push for congressional support.

The Congressional Black Caucus is scheduled to meet on Capitol Hill Monday for a briefing by Rice, said caucus spokeswoman Ayofemi Kirby.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted on Wednesday by a 10-to-7 margin in favor of the resolution that would limit Obama to a 60-to-90 day window to conduct operations. The full Senate is expected to vote on the resolution next week.

Obama has also won support from top House leaders, including Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. But the White House appears to face a tougher road in the lower chamber, where some of the most conservative and liberal members are voicing opposition to the plan for a military strike. While Boehner and Pelosi back the call for military action, they say members must vote their conscience and they will not twist arms.